It’s no secret that at least this part of the state is suffering from some of the lowest water levels in rivers and streams in a long time. Fishing medium and small streams is difficult, and fishing for trout during this hot, dry period is not recommended due to the harm it would do even if fish were to be released.

While some of us diehards have been hitting local lakes instead of moving water, even lakes and ponds have been affected by little rain and high temperatures resulting in heavy weed growth and less active fish.

If you are fortunate enough to own some kind of “bass boat,” you may still have difficulty fishing even large rivers like our own Susquehanna River. I recently checked a couple of local Fish and Boat Commission accesses, and the water was so low you could not even launch a jet boat without dragging in the few inches of water and exposed rocks. There are some launches where access is still available, but running up and down the Susquehanna right now in a gas-powered prop boat could easily lead to some damaged props.

While even our jet and gas-powered boats are somewhat limited, that does not mean, however, that fishing our larger streams and the Susquehanna is out of the question — enter canoes and kayaks. I owned a canoe long before I owned a gas-powered fishing boat, and that canoe has been on a lot of rivers, lakes, and streams even all the way to the St. Lawrence River in Canada. I personally prefer a canoe over a kayak since I have more space to work with, and I am sitting higher, making fishing and casting a bit easier. Many people avoided canoes because they could tip easily, but with a little practice, that is mostly avoidable.

Make no mistake about it though, today the kayak has taken the top spot when it comes to non-powered boats. From what I’ve been hearing, the demand for kayaks is so high that some businesses are having a difficult time keeping them in stock. It’s also pretty apparent from what I’ve seen when I’m on a lake or river trying to fish. I see good numbers of kayaks these days, especially with all this COVID-19 stuff causing people to want to “social distance” by hitting a nearby lake or stream. Many kayaks are just for paddling around, but today manufacturers are building kayaks just for fishing with storage compartments, rod holders, and other fishing related features.

Actually, fishing from a canoe or kayak on lakes and rivers offers some advantages over powerboats, especially in low water situations and on weedy lakes. First off, canoes and kayaks can be much quieter than powerboats, and that includes even electric motors. I say “can be” because it’s important not to be banging or dragging things around in a metal or plastic boat, and that can easily happen in a canoe or kayak.

Another big advantage is that canoes and kayaks can easily move over weeds and very shallow water, allowing you to reach places that you may otherwise have not been able to fish. What I especially like about a canoe is that you can easily get in and out, and when drifting the river, there are times when I want to get out and fish the upper reaches of a pool while wading.

If you don’t have access to a canoe or kayak, you are still not out of the picture; how about a belly-boat — that’s the inner-tube with a seat and an extra air-filled compartment that serves as a backrest and additional floatation. A pair of flippers propel the device. Don’t laugh; I’ve floated sections of the river and several lakes and ponds with excellent success.

By the way, if all else fails, you can still access the river and larger streams the good old-fashioned way — wade out and start casting. A couple of weeks ago, I did that, and in a couple of hours, I landed three smallmouths and lost two more — a good way to cool off on a hot afternoon.